Leguminous Trees As Fencelines and Feed Banks

• Location: Regions of Pangasinan, Cagayan, Cavite, Nueva Ecija, Philippines

Technical Description

As a source of forage for animals, the fodder trees are cut to a uniform height periodically as the need arises. A certain height of the trunk is maintained so the trees can serve as a fenceline.

Ipil-ipil (Leucaena leucocephala), madre de cacao or kakawate (Gliricidia sepium), etc. are forage species that are considered highly nutritious. Using them as fodder has made smallhold livestock raising sustainable.

Foliage of these fodder trees remains green and is available to the animals during dry months, as they are deep-rooted plants. They are also nitrogen fixers. After harvesting the leaves and young branches as feed, for the animals, the mature branches are collected as firewood for personal use or sold for cash.

Uses and Merits

Fodder trees serve as a feed bank, particularly during dry periods when forage in the pasture is scarce. These leguminous forage species are not only nutritious but are also beneficial to the soil. Usually fodder trees are planted along fencelines of a property to serve as a marker or boundary (Fig. 8). The wood serves as firewood, as a trellis support, and in the case of gliricidia, as a support for orchid plants.

Reservations on Its Use

Fodder trees such as Leucaena are easily affected by jumping lice. Hence, availability of the needed biomass becomes seasonal. Gliricidia has a distinct odor when fresh, and therefore needs to be pre-wilted before it is fed to animals.

Expert’s Comments

Leguminous fodder trees are as excellent source of quality feeds, and at the same time can improve soil fertility because of nitrogen fixation. As fencelines they define property ownership and restrain straying of animals. The wood collected as firewood can easily be converted to cash. Non-leguminous tree leaves in the farm can also be used as a feed resource.

https://www.pinoybisnes.com/livestock-business/low-cost-feeds-and-feeding-methods-for-livestock/#Tire_Trough_for_Native_Chickens